Despite having the odds stacked against him, Honorio “The Rock” Banario bet on himself, and the pay-off was certainly gratifying.
Banario scored his first win in nearly 16 months following a split-decision victory over Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai at ONE: King of the Jungle last Friday, February 28, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Before this match, questions about whether Banario could still hang with ONE Championship’s best lingered over the past few months, but his confidence never wavered.
“I came here thinking that I am going to win. Whatever happened, one way or another, I knew I had to win,” Banario said.
“If I lose here, I know I’ll continue to slide down the rankings. [And] I can’t afford that, especially since I am a family man now. I have to go get that milk for my child.”
Banario’s improvements were certainly visible.
The Mankayan, Benguet native showed his improved conditioning as he pressed the action and controlled the contest with his grappling.
By the third round, Banario looked like the fresher man, imposing his game plan on “OneShin” en route to the 15th win of his professional career.
“In the first round, I tried to get my range. When I got warmed up, that’s when I started working on my takedowns and control,” Banario said.
“Basically, that’s what I was doing. I was mixing it up with grappling and my striking. I capitalized on his weakness against grappling.”
With his confidence booming, Banario has no plans of letting up.
“This is very important for me, starting 2020 with a win and getting my hands raised in my return to my old division,” Banario said.
“It’s also a lot satisfying because my opponent is also a big name in Thailand. This is an unforgettable win.”
Next up, the world’s best strikers converge at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for ONE: Heart of Heroes on March 27.
Catch all the action for free by downloading the ONE Super App.
Read More From ONE Championship:
Phogat, Banario, Zamboanga Win On ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE Lead Card
Janet Todd Dethrones Stamp Fairtex After Five-Round Thriller
